Great Queen Street - Masonic Connections

Masonic Connections

Roughly half of the south side is occupied by Freemasons' Hall, the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England. The first English Grand Lodge was founded in 1717, which explains the dates on the top of the current building. Their first buildings on this site were replaced in 1860 by the architect Frederick Pepys Cockerell. However, this is the third Freemasons' Hall, which was built by international subscriptions in 1927-33 as a Masonic Peace Memorial after the Great War. It is a grade II listed building, and the only Art Deco building in London that is unaltered and still used for its original purpose. There are 29 meeting rooms and the 1,000 seat Grand Temple, which with the Library and Museum are open to the public with hourly guided tours.

The four Masonic Charities are also located in Freemasons' Hall. They are The Freemasons' Grand Charity, a grant-making charity; the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution(RMBI), which operates 17 care homes for Freemasons and their dependants; the Royal Masonic Trust for Boys and Girls, provides education for the children of Freemasons; and the Masonic Samaritan Fund, providing medical care and support.

In 1775 the Freemasons' Tavern stood at 61-65, now the hotel and “New Connaught Rooms”. Like the original Tavern, the hotel is used by the public as well as by the freemasons for their receptions and dinners: the “New Connaught Rooms” are frequently used for exhibitions, business meetings and award ceremonies. There are conflicting stories about the founding in 1863 of the Football Association to set down the rules of the game. The existing pub “The Freemasons Arms” on Long Acre is sometimes said to be the site of this event, but other sources say it was the “Freemason’s Tavern” where the New Connaught Rooms now stand.

There is a pub called "The Prince of Wales" at 45 Great Queen Street, presumably named after the future George IV who was the Grand Master of the Freemasons in 1809.

The North side of the road is also partly occupied by Masonic regalia shops, Masonic charities and administrative offices. At numbers 19-21 is the premises of the regalia manufacturer Toye, Kenning & Spencer who have been located at this address since acquiring the rival manufacturer George Kenning in 1956. At 23 is another shop where Masonic regalia is sold. At 30-31 is the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, a charity to provide an education for the orphaned children of Masons.